Travel Industry, News and Analytics

Thailand Reopens Phuket for Travelers and Offers Discounts for Guests

Starting from July 1, Phuket will accept both domestic and international guests, so hurry up to book a hotel in Phuket if you don’t know where to spend your summer vacation yet. To make the opening of the popular destination even more attractive for guests and help local businesses at the same time, Thailand’s government decided to launch a special campaign aimed at stimulating the economy.

The campaign is called “Hug Thais”. Its release is the result of collaboration between the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) who have signed the memorandum of understanding. The Hug Thais will help to refresh the tourism industry of Thailand and strengthen the country’s national that has suffered much damage because of the pandemic. With this collaboration, Thailand will once again prove its status as a popular tourist destination and help smaller businesses in Phuket as they suffer the most because of the tourism ban.

The first phase of the new project “Hug Thais Hug Phuket” starts already in July 2021. At the beginning of the month, Phuket hotels reopen and operate under the “sandbox” model. First, vaccinated foreign guests can enter Phuket and enjoy a vacation there without any quarantine requirement. Thailand plans to open more destinations across the country in the coming months if the plan turns out to be successful. Starting from next month, both domestic and foreign tourists will be able to enjoy special discounts when they spend 1,000 Baht or more in the retail sector of Phuket. The discounts of up to 10% and extra coupons of 100 Baht each will be available in various shops, outlets, and restaurants that participate in the promotion.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand hopes that this measure will help to revitalize Phuket’s tourism and service industry. If the pilot program proves to be efficient, Thailand plans to launch it in other destinations of the country as local businesses in Phuket are not the only ones that require revitalization.

In the coming months, Thailand plans to support and stimulate tourism and expenditures at Thai resorts. Hug Thais is the first phase of the project, and it will be followed by “Eat More” local food, “Shop More” Thai products, and “Travel More” initiatives. It will be easy to distinguish the participating shops and restaurants as they will have a special “Hug Thais” logo. Thailand hopes that its new stimulation program will add extra 100 billion Baht to the country’s economy by the end of the year.

Individual City Guides

Seriphos Island travel guide

The Greek island of Seriphos began to attract active travelers quite recently. It doesn’t differ with well-developed tourist infrastructure, but at the same time there are both comfortable hotels to stay and lots of interesting places to walk. There are several attractive beaches featuring pristine natural beauty on the island. The capital of Seriphos and the location of the most important attractions of the island is the town of the same name. The old castle on a hill surrounded by lots of … Read further

Cuisine of Hong Kong City

In Hong Kong you will find the largest choice of culinary establishments, but, without a doubt, the restaurants devoted to the national cuisine occupy the leading position. The local cuisine is characterized by unique and sometimes even unexpected combination of ingredients. This fact makes it very attractive in the eyes of gourmets. Such ingredients as soybeans and rice are widely used in local cuisine. Vegetables and seafood also occupy an honorable position in the diet of local residents. … Read further

Traditions and festivals in Agios Nikolaos

The local people are distinguished by hot-tempered and rather sentimental character that unusually contrasts with tolerance and humility. Punctuality has never been a strong point of the indigenous people. They can be late even for an important business meeting. While communicating with the locals, tourists often incorrectly interpret the meaning of some words. Thus, the word "avrio" can be translated as "tomorrow", but in reality it means a refusal. The time from 14 to 18 is considered a … Read further

Mayrhofen cultural sights

Beautiful Mayrhofen is not deprived of some historical charm. Despite the size, there are many landmarks and symbolic places in this town. Some places are truly unique and it’s not possible to see something similar in any other place in the world. The White Lounge complex is one of such places. This landmark looks like a small village with houses made of snow. White Lounge is an unusual hotel complex, so it’s possible to stay in any of these houses. It’s important to mention that this … Read further

Toulouse attractions and entertainment

Toulouse is the perfect place for an active and exciting holiday. The choice of entertainment options for guests of the city is just unlimited. The Cite de l'Espace is an amazing place for the whole family. It is something between the Science Museum and interactive entertainment center. Every day this Space Town hosts various events associated with outer space; entertainment programs for children are also carried there. In Toulouse you can find lots of beautiful parks and gardens suitable for … Read further

Antigua Island for families and kids

If you decided to go to Antigua with your children, you should definitely visit Stingray City. Hardly anywhere else in the world will you have a chance to communicate so closely with those amazing creatures. The dive into the unknown world of stingrays starts from the base. Experienced instructors will tell you and your child how to behave near these sea animals and how to feed them. The kids can first practice those skills right there on a toy. You can rent here a boat and a snorkel with a … Read further

Shopping in Amersfoort

Miniature Amersfoort can boast of more than a decent choice of places for shopping. The main part of popular shops is concentrated around St. George's Square. You can find popular clothing and lovely souvenir shops there. Numerous handicraft shops operate in the city, as it was many years ago. They sell exclusive crafts and handmade household decorations. A large commercial district has been formed around the square over time. You won't be successful in getting around all the shops for the whole … Read further

Extreme and fun in Almeria

Alpinism. If you cannot imagine your life without conquering mountain peaks, then you can try alpinism in the picturesque Sierra Cabrera Mountains during your vacation in Almeria that is famous for its beautiful beaches. The season starts in May and lasts till September. Don’t forget that in order to enjoy such an extreme entertainment, you need to have experience and corresponding skills because you will walk tenths of kilometers in an unpopulated region with stones, fast rivers, and … Read further